Seeds from perennial desert and drought-tolerant plants can be planted in fall. There are many species which will bloom in spring or summer if planted in autumn.
There are large numbers of desert and drought-tolerant perennials which can be planted by seed in the fall. Many of these species will bloom the next spring or summer.
In fact, the seeds of many plants need moist cold, or simply cold weather to germinate.
One way to get seeds of desert perennials is to purchase them. There are many nurseries, online sources, and mail-order catalogues that sell them. You can obtain desert perennial mixes, which have been presorted by cold-hardiness regions. Or, you can purchase seeds of individual species and plant them in drifts, or in specific areas.
Another method to get desert perennial seeds is to collect them from existing plants. Many desert plant seeds ripen in the fall, and can be collected in the wild, along roadsides, in fields or in neighbor’s yard. Check state and local regulations when collecting seeds from public areas. Many laws allow the seeds to be collected, but not the plants themselves. If collecting on private property, ask permission first.
Plants that can be planted now include:
- Blue Flax (Linum lewsii)
- Columbine (Hymenoxys)
- Tickseed (Coreopsis)
- Penstemon (Penstemon) (also known as Beardtongue)
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)
- Sage (Salvia)
- Jupiter’s Beard (Centranthus)
- Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
- Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Maximillian’s Sunflower (Helianthus)
